Volunteer Mentor - Bedfordshire/MK areas
CLI provides a peer mentoring service to people from a range of backgrounds who are facing challenges in their lives. Some of these challenges include homelessness, substance misuse, offending, mental Ill health and domestic abuse. As a mentor, you will support people in lots of different ways, including practical tasks, group activities, outreach, accessing support services and having some fun!
This opportunity is open for anybody who believes in change, is passionate about the work we do and is committed to supporting people to live a more independent and positive life.
The role offers a level of responsibility that few other voluntary roles can. It provides an opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to achieve your own personal goals and enhance employment opportunities within the social care, criminal justice, substance misuse and homelessness fields.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Help the people we support to identify achievable goals that are focused on their individual needs.
- Build relationships with our partners who also provide services to the people we support.
- Encourage people to access support services and help them navigate those services.
- Motivate people to attend meetings and appointments and to go along with them where appropriate.
- Promote the value of lifestyle changes to people.
- Update records of activity in a timely manner.
- Be committed to ongoing development and training.
- Attend ongoing supervision from volunteer coordinator.
- Attend additional meetings that are relevant to the project.
- Implement and adhere to the policies and procedures of CLI.
Personal attributes:
These are the personal attributes you need to be a volunteer in this role:
- Ability to engage positively with people
- A belief that change is possible
- Have empathy and understanding of the issues faced by the people we support
- Willingness to learn and develop own knowledge and skillset
- Good communications skills
- Non-judgemental attitude and approach
- Positive “can do” attitude
We will be looking for these attributes at all stages of recruitment including an initial “getting to know you” session, training, and induction process.
Commitment
CLI services take place on weekdays in the daytime and we ask for volunteers to be available for a minimum of 4 -6 hours per week. As the nature of the volunteering role is to develop a trusting and positive relationship with people we support, it is hoped that volunteer mentors can attend regularly at agreed times and volunteer for at least 4 months.
Expenses
CLI will repay the cost of travel and any other out of pocket expenses (e.g. Refreshments) incurred during your voluntary work.
Community Led Initiatives are looking for volunteers in Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire.